Rear boot hood for an open-top vehicle with a folding roof

ABSTRACT

In a vehicle, each of the pivot assemblies comprises a base secured to the bodywork of the vehicle, a body which is connected to a rear trunk lid via a hinge-forming member, and locking means for locking the body in a position where it is locked relative to said base. The locking means comprise hook-forming means pivotally mounted on the base and adapted to engage a complementary bearing shape of a first engaging element to bear against said bearing shape and to guide the end of the pivoting movement of the lid into the corresponding locked position.

The present invention relates to a rear trunk lid for a convertiblevehicle with a roof that is foldable into the rear trunk of saidvehicle, the lid comprising two front pivot assemblies adapted to causethe lid of the rear trunk to pivot forwards, and two rear pivotassemblies adapted to cause said lid to pivot rearwards.

The present invention also relates to a vehicle including such a reartrunk lid.

French patent FR-B-2 777 241 in the name of the Applicant discloses alid of the above-specified type in which each pivot assembly is a lockserving either to lock or else to hinge the lid so as to enable it toopen either rearwards or forwards.

U.S. patent application U.S. 2001/0048231 A1 discloses another reartrunk lid of the above-specified type.

Each of the pivot assemblies comprises a base fixed to the bodywork ofthe vehicle, a body fixed to the rear trunk lid by a hinge-formingmember and including a first engaging element adapted to be releasablyreceived by a second engaging element of complementary shape formingpart of the corresponding base, and locking means for locking the bodyin its locked position relative to said base.

The locking means described in the second prior art document areconstituted by a rod which slides in the transverse direction of thevehicle and which penetrates into a corresponding opening in the body.That requires the opening in the body to be aligned very accuratelyrelative to said rod, and such alignment is not easy to achieve for avehicle rear trunk lid.

The object of the present invention is to propose a rear trunk lid ofthe above-specified type that is adapted to guide the rear trunk lidpositively at the end of its pivoting movement in order to bring saidlid accurately to its locked position.

In the present invention, the rear trunk lid of the above-specified typeis characterized in that the locking means comprise hook-forming meanspivotally mounted on the base and adapted to engage with a complementarybearing surface of the first engaging element to bear against saidbearing surface and guide the end of the pivoting movement of the lidinto the corresponding locked position.

Thus, the hook-forming means of the base bear against the bearingsurface of the body and positively guide and drive the body and thus thelid into the locked position.

Such a structure is thus well adapted to accommodating all clearancesand tolerances, whether due to the conditions that apply when assemblingthe lid or to deformations of said lid during its various pivotingmovements, while also ensuring positive guidance of said lid into thelocked position.

Other features and advantages of the present invention appear from thefollowing detailed description.

In the accompanying drawings, given as non-limiting examples:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary diagrammatic longitudinal section view of aconvertible vehicle with a folding roof that includes a rear trunk lidof the prior art;

FIGS. 2 a and 2 b are enlarged and partially cutaway views of details Aand B of FIG. 1, respectively showing a front pivot assembly and a rearpivot assembly for a rear trunk lid in an embodiment of the presentinvention, said lid being in its closed position;

FIGS. 3 a and 3 b are views similar to FIGS. 2 a and 2 b respectively,the lid being shown in a position in which it is pivoted forwards alittle;

FIGS. 4 a and 4 b are views similar to FIGS. 2 a and 2 b respectively,the lid being shown in a position in which it is pivoted rearwards alittle;

FIGS. 5 a and 5 b are views similar to FIGS. 2 a and 2 b respectivelyshowing another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view in section on VI-VI of FIG. 2 a, the hookbeing in its locked position;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6, the hook being in its unlockedposition and the lid being substantially in the position shown in FIG. 4a;

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7 showing another embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 6 showing another embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 9, the hook being in its unlockedposition;

FIG. 11 is a view similar to FIG. 9, corresponding to another embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a diagrammatic view on XII-XII of FIG. 2 b;

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary diagrammatic view in section on XIII-XIII ofFIG. 8; and

FIG. 14 is a view similar to FIG. 5 b showing another embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a convertible vehicle, referenced 1, whoseroof 2 is foldable into the rear trunk 3 of the vehicle 1. Such afolding roof 2 is known.

The lid 4 of the rear trunk 3 has two front pivot assemblies 5 adaptedto pivot the lid 4 of the rear trunk 3 in a forward direction, as shownby arrow 6 in FIG. 1, to take up a position referenced 4 a to give easyaccess to the rear trunk, e.g. in order to put baggage therein (notshown).

The lid 4 pivots in conventional manner under drive from at least oneactuator 60, in general under drive from two actuators 60 disposed oneither side of the rear trunk 3. Each actuator is hinged at the end 61of its cylinder to the bodywork 10 of the vehicle, and the end 62 of itsrod 63 is hinged to the lid 4.

The lid 4 also has two rear pivot assemblies 7 adapted to enable the lid4 to pivot rearwards in the direction of arrow 8, into a positionreferenced 4 b, so as to enable the lid 4 to be stowed in a foldedconfiguration inside the rear trunk 3.

As shown in detail in FIGS. 2 a, 2 b, 3 a, 3 b, 4 a, 4 b, and 5 a, 5 b,each of the pivot assemblies 5, 7 comprises a base 9 secured to thebodywork 10 of the vehicle, a body 11 which is connected to the lid 4 ofthe rear trunk 3 by a hinge-forming member 12 and which comprises afirst engaging element 13 adapted to be releasably received by a secondengaging element 14 of complementary shape forming part of thecorresponding base 9.

Each pivot assembly 5, 7 also comprises locking means for locking thebody 11 in its locked position relative to the corresponding base 9.

In the present invention, the locking means comprise hook-forming means15 pivotally mounted on the base 9 and adapted to engage a complementarybearing surface of the first engaging element 13 in order to bearagainst said bearing surface and positively guide the end of the pivotmovement of the lid 4 into the corresponding locked position.

As shown in particular in FIGS. 6 to 12, the first engaging element 13is a male element that is substantially wedge-shaped, and the secondengaging element 14 is a female element including a cavity 16 that issubstantially wedge-shaped and that is adapted to receive the male,first element 13.

The wedge shape of the first and second engaging elements 13 and 14provides accurate guidance for the end of the pivoting movement of thelid 4 towards its closed and locked position.

The wedge shape of each male, first engaging element 13 and the wedgeshape of each female, second engaging element 14 extend in a verticalplane P that itself extends transversely relative to the lid 4, whichplane is parallel to the planes of FIGS. 6 and 12 (see FIGS. 1, 2 a, and2 b).

In the embodiment shown diagrammatically in FIGS. 6 and 7, thewedge-shaped first engaging element 13 has a wall 17 that issubstantially perpendicular to the trajectory (represented by arrow 18)of the first element 13 coming into its position where it is locked inthe cavity 16 of the base 9.

In this embodiment, the wall 17 constitutes the bottom of an opening 19into which the free end 20 of the hook 15 can penetrate.

The hook 15 is shaped and disposed on the base 9 in such a manner thatits free end 20 bears against the wall 17 to urge the first engagingelement 13 in the direction of arrow 18 towards the locked position ofFIG. 6, and to lock said element 13 in said locked position.

In particular, the hook 15 is shaped so as to oppose any attempt atopening the lid 4, insofar as a force directed vertically upwards on thefirst engaging element 13 does not exert any force on the hook 15tending to cause the hook 15 to pivot (to the right in FIG. 6) towardsits unlocked position as shown in FIG. 7.

Similarly, the hook 15 is shaped and arranged on the base 9 relative tothe wall 17 and to the opening 19 in such a manner as to be adapted toengage the wall 17 in a position of the element 13 that is as remote aspossible from the locked position of said element 13 as shown in FIG. 6.The hook 15 thus constitutes a drive element controlling the end of thepivoting movement of the lid 4, in co-operation with the actuators 60.

In the embodiment shown diagrammatically in FIGS. 9 and 10, the firstengaging element 13 includes a lug 21 projecting transversely towardsthe hook 15, and the hook 15 is shaped and disposed on the base 9 insuch a manner that its free end 20 bears against the lug 21 to urge thefirst engaging element 13 in the direction of arrow 18 towards itsposition where it is locked in the corresponding base 9, showndiagrammatically in FIG. 9, and to lock said first engaging element 13in said locked position.

In this embodiment, the top surface 22 of the lug 21 is substantiallyhorizontal when the lid 4 is in its closed position, which makes the lug21 particularly simple to provide.

Co-operation between the end 20 of the hook 15 and the top surface 22 ofthe lug 21 is organized as described above for the wall 17.

In this embodiment, the hook 15 is pivotally mounted to the ends of twopivoting arms 55 and 56 whose other ends are pivotally mounted on thesecond engaging element 14.

At least one or both of the two arms 55 and 56 could be an actuator ofvariable length.

This embodiment enables the end 20 of the hook 15 to bear against thewall 17 (or 22) at a distance from the locked position that is greaterthan is possible with the pivoting hook shown in FIGS. 6 to 8. Relativeto the pivot axis 66 of the lower arm 56 on the second engaging element14, the pivot axis 65 of the hook 15 at the end of said lower arm 56 issituated in FIG. 10 in the unlocked position of the hook 15 in which thearm 56 is in a position close to the vertical, at a level that is higherthan its level in FIG. 9 in the locked position of said hook 15 wherethe arm 56 has a position that is close to the horizontal.

Naturally, the top surface 22 of the lug 21 could be given a shape otherthan plane and an orientation other than the horizontal orientation ofFIG. 9.

In the example of FIG. 13, the shape 19 a of the cross-section of theopening 19 is flared towards the hook 15 and of a width that is littlegreater than that of the hook 15. Thus, when the end 20 of the hook 15penetrates into the opening 19 (arrow 20 a), the flared shape 19 aconstrains the element 13 to become centered relative to the hook 15 sothat the lid 4 is accurately centered when each of the hooks 15 is inits locked position in which its free end 20 occupies the position shownin dashed lines at 20 b.

The lid 4 includes means for causing each hook 15 to pivot in onedirection or the other about its pivot axis 25 in order to lock orrelease the first engaging element 13.

These means for pivoting each hook 15 may be any conventional means, andin general comprise a motor shown diagrammatically at 26.

In the embodiment of FIG. 6, the motor 26 drives a wormscrew 27 thatmeshes with a set of teeth 28 secured to the hook 15 and centered on thepivot axis 25 of the hook 15.

In the embodiment of FIG. 7, the motor (not shown) is adapted to causethe pivot pin 25 of the hook 15 to turn directly. The motor may bemounted directly on the pin 25, or it may cause the pin 25 to turn via agearbox and/or a cardan joint, or via a flexible cable for transmittingmotion.

In the embodiment of FIG. 8, the motor 26 is adapted to drive astationary pivoting nut 29 which on rotating moves a sliding screw 30carrying a ball 31 that bears against one wall 32 or the other wall 33of a slot 34 formed in the hook 15.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 9 and 10, the motor (not shown) is suitablefor causing one of the two pivot arms 55, 56 to turn, each of them beinghinged at one end to the second engaging element 14 and at its other endto the hook 15.

In the embodiment of FIG. 11, the motor 26 drives a gearwheel 27 ameshing with a sliding rack 35 carrying a finger 36 that bears againstone wall 37 or the other wall 38 of a notch 39 formed in the hook 15 andopening out in the edge thereof.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2 a, 2 b, 3 a, 3 b, 4 a, 4 b, thehinge-forming member 12 of each pivot assembly 5, 7 comprises twosubstantially parallel links 40 each hinged at one end 41 to a gussetplate 57 carried by the lid 4 and at its other end 42 to an arm 43 thatis secured to the corresponding first engaging element 13.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 5 a and 5 b, the hinge-forming member 12 ofeach pivot assembly 5, 7 is a pivot pin 44 extending in the transversedirection 45 of the lid 4 (see FIG. 7) and carried firstly by gussetplates 58 fixed to the lid 4 and secondly by an arm 46 of the body 11 towhich the corresponding wedge-shaped male first engaging element 13 issecured.

Each pivot assembly 5, 7 also includes a return spring 47 placed betweenthe lid 4 and the corresponding body 11 and urging the lid 4 into itsclosed position in FIGS. 2 a and 2 b or 5 a and 5 b.

In FIG. 5 a, the position the spring 47 occupies when the lid 4 is openforwards is shown in dashed lines under reference 48, and reference 49designates the path followed by the end 50 of the spring 47 fixed to thelid 4.

Close to each hinge-forming member 12, the lid 4 carries an abutmentshown diagrammatically at 54, which abutment may be adjustable, ifnecessary, and serves to position the male, first engaging element 13and the corresponding female, second engaging element 14 relative toeach other.

Several embodiments are described above of a rear trunk lid that, by thepositive action of the hook 15, enables the lid 4 to be guidedaccurately and reliably without jolting or shock towards its lockedposition, this guidance being controlled automatically by a motor 26which drives the hook 15.

In the event of the above-mentioned locking and unlocking means breakingdown, which means are located inside the rear trunk 3 of the vehicle, itis necessary to provide means that enable at least the two rear pivotassemblies to be unlocked manually in order to gain access to the insideof the rear trunk 3.

In the embodiment shown diagrammatically in FIG. 14, the hook 15 isshown as being provided with a set of teeth 28 meshing with a wormscrew27, as shown in FIG. 6.

In this example, the hook 15 can be caused to pivot under direct driveinto its unlocked position by means of a shaft 70 whose inside end 71engages with the teeth 28 via means that are not shown but that areknown to the person skilled in the art.

The outside end 72 of the shaft 70 is accessible from outside thevehicle via a removable cap 73 provided in the shield 74.

After removing the cap 73, a tool shown diagrammatically at 75 isinserted, the tool having a free end 76 of a shape that is complementaryto the shape of the outside end 72 of the shaft 70.

By way of example, the free end 76 of the tool 75 has a male shape ofsquare section adapted to engage with a complementary female shape ofsquare section at the outside end 72 of the shaft 70.

Thus, by means of a hand tool 75 provided with the vehicle, it ispossible to turn the shaft 70 so as to pivot the hook 15 (arrow 77).

In general, when pivoting of the hook 15 is controlled in some otherway, it suffices to act appropriately on the gearbox interposed betweenthe motor 26 and the hook 15, in any manner that is known per se.

Naturally, the present invention is not limited to the embodimentsdescribed above, and numerous changes and modifications can be madethereto without going beyond the ambit of the invention.

Thus, the wedge shape of the engaging elements 13 and 14 could bereplaced by truncated pyramid or truncated cone shapes providingguidance both in a longitudinal plane and in a transverse plane.

It would also be possible to provide the base 9, the hook 15, and themotor 6 on the lid 4 while providing the body 11 on the bodywork 10 ofthe vehicle.

1-11. (canceled)
 12. An assembly for pivoting, on a bodywork of aconvertible vehicle having front and rear ends and a roof which isfoldable into a rear trunk of said vehicle, a lid adapted forselectively covering said rear trunk, the assembly comprising frontpivot assemblies adapted to cause the lid to pivot forwards relativelyto said bodywork, and rear pivot assemblies adapted to cause said lid topivot rearwards relatively to said bodywork, each of the pivotassemblies comprising: a body connected to the lid by a hinge-formingmember, said body comprising a first engaging element, a base adapted tobe secured to the bodywork, said base comprising a second, complementaryengaging element, said first and second, complementary engaging elementsbeing adapted to be releasably engaged with each other, and lockingmeans comprising hook-forming means pivotally mounted on the base andadapted for engaging a complementary bearing shape provided on thecorresponding first engaging element to bear against said bearing shapeand for locking the corresponding body in a locking position in whichsaid body is locked relative to said base, each hook-forming means beingshaped and arranged on the corresponding base in such a manner that: itbecomes engaged with said complementary bearing shape of the firstengaging element when said first engaging element is in a position thatis as far as possible from its locking position, and thus it guides theend of the pivoting movement of the lid into the corresponding lockedposition.
 13. The assembly according to claim 12, wherein: the firstengaging element of the corresponding body comes along a path into itslocked position in the corresponding base, the first engaging elementincludes a wall extending substantially perpendicularly to said path,and the corresponding hook-forming mean is shaped and disposed in such amanner that a free end thereof bears against said wall to urge the firstengaging element towards its locked position in the corresponding basedand lock it therein.
 14. The assembly according to claim 12, wherein thefirst engaging element includes a lug projecting transversely towardsthe corresponding hook-forming mean, and said corresponding hook-formingmean is shaped and arranged in such a manner that a free end there ofbears against said lug to urge said first engaging element towards itslocked position in the corresponding base and lock it therein.
 15. Theassembly according to claim 12, further comprising driving means forcausing each hook-forming mean to pivot in order to lock or release thecorresponding first engaging element, said driving means comprising amotor adapted to pivot a pivot pin of the corresponding hook-formingmean.
 16. The assembly according to claim 12, wherein each firstengaging element is a male element that is substantially wedge-shaped,and each second, complementary engaging element is a female elementhaving a cavity that is substantially wedge-shaped and adapted toreceive said male, first engaging element.
 17. A convertible vehiclehaving front and rear ends and comprising a bodywork including a reartrunk, a lid pivotably arranged on said bodywork for selectivelycovering said rear trunk in a closing position, a roof which is foldableinto the rear trunk, front pivot assemblies adapted to cause the lid topivot forwards relatively to said bodywork, rear pivot assembliesadapted to cause said lid to pivot rearwards relatively to saidbodywork, each of the pivot assemblies comprising: a body connected tothe lid by a hinge-forming member, said body comprising a first engagingelement, a base secured to the bodywork, said base comprising a second,complementary engaging elements being adapted to be releasably engagedwith each other, and locking means comprising hook-forming meanspivotally mounted on the base and adapted for engaging a complementarybearing shape provided on the corresponding first engaging element tobear against said bearing shape, and for locking the corresponding bodyin a locking position in which said body is locked relative to saidbase, the hook-forming means being shaped and arranged on thecorresponding base in such a manner that: it becomes engaged with saidcomplementary bearing shape of the first engaging element when saidfirst engaging element is in a position that is as far as possible fromits locking position, and thus it guides the end of the pivotingmovement of the lid into the corresponding locked position.
 18. Theconvertible vehicle according to claim 17, wherein: the first engagingelement of the corresponding body comes into its locked position in thecorresponding base, along a path, the first engaging element includes awall extending substantially perpendicularly to said path, and thecorresponding hook-forming mean is shaped and disposed in such a mannerthat a free end thereof bears against said wall to urge the firstengaging element towards its locked position in the corresponding baseand lock it therein.
 19. The convertible vehicle according to claim 17,wherein the first engaging element includes a lug projectingtransversely towards the corresponding hook-forming mean, and saidcorresponding hook-forming mean is shaped and arranged in such a mannerthat a free end thereof bears against said lug to urge said firstengaging element towards its locked position in the corresponding baseand lock it therein.
 20. The convertible vehicle according to claim 17,wherein each first engaging element is a male element that issubstantially wedge-shaped, and each second, complementary engagingelement is a female element having a cavity that is substantiallywedge-shaped and adapted to receive said male, first engaging element.21. The convertible vehicle according to claim 20, wherein the wedgeshape of each engaging element extends in a vertical plane extendingtransversely relative to the lid.
 22. A locking device for locking to abodywork of a vehicle a lid adapted for selectively covering a reartruck of said vehicle, the locking device comprising: a hook-formingmeans pivotally arranged on a base adapted to be secured to the bodyworkand to which said lid is to be locked, said hook-forming means beingadapted: for engaging a complementary bearing shape shaped on anengaging element of a body connected to the lid, to bear against saidbearing shape, and for locking the corresponding body in a lockingposition, and driving means for causing the hook-forming means to pivot,in order to reversibly lock said engaging element of the lid body, andthus the lid, to the connected to the bodywork base.
 23. The lockingdevice according to claim 22, wherein the driving means comprise a motoradapted to drive a wormscrew meshed with a set of teeth.
 24. The lockingdevice according to claim 22, wherein the hook-forming means comprises ahook having a free end, said hook being so shaped and so arranged on thebase that its free end presses on said complementary bearing shape ofthe body, for locking said body to the bodywork, in a locking position,further to a step comprising urging said body towards said lockingposition.
 25. The locking device of claim 22, wherein the hook-formingmeans comprises a hook so shaped and so arranged on the base that aforce directed vertically upwards on the body does not exert any forceon the hook tending to cause said hook to pivot towards an unlockedposition with respect to the body lid.
 26. The locking device accordingto claim 22, wherein the hook-forming means comprises a hook which is soshaped and so arranged on the base that it becomes engaged with saidcomplementary bearing shape of the engaging element when said engagingelement is in a position that is as far as possible from the lockingposition.
 27. The locking device of claim 22, wherein the engagingelement of the body comes along a path into its locking position in thebase, and said engaging element includes a wall extending substantiallyperpendicularly to said path.